Book review: Shaun the Sheep Movie… read all about it!

Pam Norfolk

Everyone is flocking to see the woolly sensation Shaun the Sheep Movie and here’s a chance to enjoy the wider picture with these super tie-in books.

Walker Books have the whole film knitted up with a superb selection of titles from a sturdy little board book for babies to a range of brilliant activity books and the definitive book of the film.

Shaun the Sheep Movie – described by one critic as ‘pure cinematic joy’ – comes from the studios of Bristol-based Aardman Animations, workplace of Preston’s own famous Shaun the Sheep creator and Oscar winner Nick Park.

So sit back, have fun with the books and log on to www.shaunthesheep.com to find a fabulous, fleecy world of additional games, clips and more.

Age 7 plus:

Shaun the Sheep Movie: The Book of the Film by Martin Howard

The fun starts here as Shaun the Sheep steps into the limelight again for his first feature film. This original, action-packed novel, based on the screenplay, includes an eight-page colour insert of superb stills from the film.

When the mischievous sheep of Mossy Bottom Farm hatch a plan for a day off, everything goes haywire and Shaun the Sheep gets a little more action than he bargained for. The Farmer goes missing, the pigs take over the farmhouse and chaos descends. Bitzer, the Farmer’s dog, Shaun and the rest of the Flock head into the Big City for a manhunt. There they find lots of surprises, including an Animal Containment Officer who is desperate to hunt them down! Can Shaun find the Farmer and return everyone safely to the green, green grass of home?

Easy-to-read, packed with everyone’s favourite characters and some glossy stills, this book of the film will have Shaun the Sheep fans gambolling with delight.

(Walker, paperback, £6.99)

Age 5 plus:

Shaun the Sheep Movie: Shear Madness

Early readers can also join in the fun and laughter with this abridged chapter book containing a selection of the hilariously sheepish antics of Shaun and his Flock.

Illustrated throughout with more glossy, full-colour scenes from the film, there are laughs on every page as the animals set out on their mission of mercy.

For the Farmer, shearing sheep is as natural as breathing. But after he has an accident, he can’t remember anything. He doesn’t remember Shaun the sheep, Bitzer the dog, his job, even his own name. Confused, he wanders the streets of the Big City until he finds an outrageous new use for his sheep-shearing skills. How will Shaun and Bitzer bring him back to Mossy Bottom Farm?

A jolly bedtime story for your own frisky lambs…

(Walker, paperback, £4.99)

Shaun the Sheep Movie: The Great Escape

And here’s another entertaining and illustrated early-reader chapter book for younger Shaun the Sheep fans, this time based on the hilarious prison caper featured in the film.

Shaun the Sheep is in big trouble. The Farmer is in the hospital, the Flock is roaming somewhere in the Big City, and Shaun and Bitzer have been caught and locked up by evil Officer Trumper from the Animal Containment Centre. They need to get out but no one has ever before escaped from the centre. The Flock needs to get them out, but will they succeed against the odds?

The perfect escape story for young readers…

(Walker, paperback, £4.99)

Shaun the Sheep Movie: Sheep on Set Activity Book

Lights! Camera! Action! Get busy this half term with two Shaun the Sheep activity books which give children a hands-on lesson in movie making.

Join Shaun and the rest of the Flock as they bring Mossy Bottom Farm to the big screen, and learn about some of the processes used by film studios. Complete a crossword and a word search, finish off a film-maker’s storyboard, create a flick book, draw in a background scene for a post-production unit and respond to an interviewer. There also cut-out pieces for readers to make their own changing-picture thaumatrope toy, an early form of animation using discs and lengths of string. And if that wasn’t enough, creative youngsters can write their own sequel…

Will they make it to the cut?

(Walker, paperback, £4.99)

Shaun the Sheep Movie: Flock in the City Sticker Activity Book

This brilliant sticker and activity book gets right to the heart of the adventure as youngsters are invited to help Shaun and his friends get out of trouble by completing a series of activities and puzzles.

When Shaun decides to take the day off and have some fun, he gets a little more action than he baa-gained for! Shaun’s mischief accidentally causes the Farmer to be taken away from the farm, so it’s up to Shaun and the flock to travel to the Big City to rescue him. Help Shaun and his pals by getting out of a maze, completing a crossword, connecting the dots, spotting the difference and lots, lots more.

There are over 100 full-colour stickers to add to the fun and games, so what are you waiting for… get stuck in!

(Walker, paperback, £4.99)

Babies and toddlers:

Shaun the Sheep Movie: Timmy in the City

Even the very youngest members of the family can enjoy the antics of Shaun the Sheep with a warm and whimsical board book based on the film.

This is little Timmy’s story of the adventure in the Big City where he finds that many things, like automatic doors and restaurants, are very different from life on the farm. Some things are the same of course… city folk get sheared too. All the excitement proves great fun but coming home is just as wonderful.

This hard-wearing, irresistible board book is the perfect way to share the movie with Shaun and Timmy’s youngest fans.